Watkins Maintains the Edge - Yet Calvert-Lewin May Yet Make the World Cup

Only one goal in his initial ten top-flight outings this campaign had numerous wondering if Dominic Calvert-Lewin's best days were over.

Yet, a only four weeks on, he is the hottest striker in England after bagging 7 goals in 6 back-to-back games.

His latest goal, in a stalemate versus Sunderland, took his tally to eight, making him the top English goalscorer in the Premier League this term.

A Remarkable Revival

The 28-year-old moved to Leeds United on a free transfer in the summer, following a nine-year period with Everton that was hampered by fitness issues in its latter stages.

However, the statistics underpinning his resurgence in Daniel Farke's new counter-attacking 3-5-2 formation are genuinely remarkable.

His six-match scoring run sees him in elite company as just the 11th English player to score in six or more successive Premier League fixtures.

To provide context, even England captain Harry Kane never managed a run of this length - his best is two separate five-match streaks.

And the sole English striker to surpass Calvert-Lewin in recent memory is Jamie Vardy, who embarked on an eight-game scoring run for Leicester City in 2019.

The Reason for the Purple Patch?

What has made Calvert-Lewin so tough to stop in the past month? A latest opponent's manager explained it succinctly.

"He has the ideal timing," the manager stated. "He's clever and a genuinely top-class striker and he found the timing to arrive at the perfect moment."

That nose for goal and timing inside the 18-yard box was what established him as a popular figure at his former team.

Analysts highlight the formation change to a 3-5-2 as a key factor, allowing a greater number of players to get into the box and occupy defenders, which has created the striker some extra space.

"He is a traditional centre-forward," observed a former professional. "For the goal... it was a exquisite little finish beyond the keeper, a textbook centre-forward's goal."

"I've been through a lot since then. Lots of ups and lots of lows. A challenge of mentality and I've persevered and kept going... I've believed in myself and now I'm reaping the rewards."

His manager has expressed little astonishment at this purple patch, emphasizing that the player is "among the elite strikers" in the competition.

The England Question

Calvert-Lewin's scoring run has inevitably fueled conversations of an England return.

The former Sheffield United player has 11 England caps, scoring four goals, but has not played for the national team since the most recent European Championship.

Pundits believe the striker will be in contention for the World Cup squad if he can sustain this level.

"He looks as fit as he has in a long time," one said. "If he maintains this level of form... then he's going to be in a discussion for a World Cup place."

Intense Rivalry

But, the battle for places behind Harry Kane is fierce.

Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa, following a match-winning brace against Chelsea, is presently seen as ahead in the selection race, according to some analysis.

"If you compare the two players, Watkins has the edge in terms of using his pace to test teams," it was stated.

"He also has the advantage when it comes to making a meaningful impact at a big competition."

Finally, whether Calvert-Lewin will be the squad could hinge on how many out-and-out strikers the head coach decides to select.

"I think it might depend on whether he takes two or three centre-forwards," an pundit concluded. "If it is three, he certainly has a chance."